The National University of Samoa’s Community Orchestra put on a mini concert for families and friends at the University’s music room on Sunday evening, with the main purpose of display and showcasing the talents of young musicians.

Organised by Rosaiviti Solomona, tutor and coordinator of the Orchestra and Young Musician Programme, and Susan Solomona, lecturer of Music and Performing Arts; the mini concert provided additional performance practice for a bigger concert or event in the future.

Susan Solomona told the Samoa Observer that the event was part of their development programme, to prepare for major performances.

“The vocal presentation, as young musicians will play their solo instruments like trumpet, cellos, violin, piano and others, to showcase their talent. It is a standard requirement for any music program to perform and develop public recitals.”  

Rosaiviti Solomona said they had to look to their own needs, and overcome challenges.

“In many ways we are improving step by step, it’s all about the development. Here in the islands we are so far isolated from programmes overseas, so we are looking to our own needs and we try to address our own needs so that there is a steady development,” said Rosaiviti. 

“So the recital tonight [Sunday] is meant for grooming, of stage presence and organizational skills and musician trips, as they get used to playing together.

“The challenges for a programme like this are the facilities, like need more space for the instruments and also we would like to have multiple classes simultaneously, but we can’t because it’s less space and only two rooms.

“As some of our group are playing for the first time in front of people, and that was challenging but [they] did a good job.”

One of the mothers attending the recital, Valelia Ausage, had three of her children perform.

“I just want my children to learn how to play an instrument, especially violin. It started from Australia when one of my friends gave me her son’s violin when he grew up, and I thought I’ll make good use of it. And that’s the reason why I send my son to orchestra and get tutoring so he can learn how to use that violin.

“I keep sending them to Tutors, and I remember TJ was the one who really helped them developed their instrumental knowledge, but they are still learning.  

Valelia, the wife of the President of the Seventh Day Adventist church said her children are learning the ukulele, piano, violin and other instruments and have started playing inside their church.

“That’s the whole idea, for them to use their talent in the church. I have seen kids spending too much time in front of the TV and they love to play X-Box and Play Station after school, so I decided, for my kids, to do something better to occupy them after school.”

Debut cello performer Tataifono Eti Tamati said that the recital it was a good experience to play in front of people but for the first time he was a little nervous.

“But thank God I did manage to complete my performance perfectly.”